Title: Ending the Feud?
Chapter 5 – A Real Reason to Worry

"How the hell did you get out!" Severide barks angrily, his mind racing to a wrong conclusion as he had jumped out of the car and just verbally discharged. When his brain finally snaps him back to reality he looks at the shocked face staring back in well – shock. "Oh."

"I uh was just looking for the bus loop," the man stammers as Severide's eyes blink a few more times; the face clearly displaying himself as not being Kevin Hadley. "Do you know where it is?"

"I don't know," Severide mutters as the man backs away with a distressed expression. Oh damn…not good what…what was I thinking…he gets back into his car and watches the man slowly shuffle toward the main street; his mind scolding him for reacting before assessing all the facts. That was a stranger! You were ready to fight him for asking for help!

Severide's fingers tightly grip the steering wheel as he pulls away from the jail and heads for home; his mind and heart racing that if Hadley was free he could just walk right up to him or…his wife! He ever goes near Erin…I'll kill him!

He reaches home, his body wanting nothing more than to collapse into bed, but his mind wanting to drown his anxiety-riddled misery in the nearest bottle of booze. Severide takes a hearty swig, coughing as he sees Hadley's laughing face before him.

"You bastard!" Severide shouts as he takes another swig and then glares angrily at the clock. Why isn't Erin home yet?

XXXXXXXX

'Hello Detective Lindsay…oh right…it's Detective Severide now.'

The smug tone sent chills down her spine as she recalls turning to see Kevin Hadley looking at her with an almost sinister expression. When Voight had arrived, they both went back inside the prison, Erin hanging back to talk to the parole board administrator and see what impact statements if any were read at Kevin Hadley's hearing. Nothing had been submitted. They would find out later that it was because the hapless clerk actually owed Hadley for him saving her little daughter the year before he was committed. She had told him that if he needed a favor she'd be indebted. For four and a half years the debt went uncollected. Until today. And it was paid in full.

'What do you mean nothing came through. Kelly Severide said he sent through an impact statement and I know he doesn't have to be here to have it read.'

'I'm sorry Sargent Voight, nothing came through. The board has ruled in Kevin Hadley's favor.'

'What?'

She had wandered out of the office while Voight argued with the parole board chair, looking out into the quiet eating area and letting her mind slightly wander. But Hadley's voice snapped her right back. She turned to him with a rather placid gaze, not wanting to engage him further.

'What's it like waking up to a traitor every morning?'

Of course he wants her to engage him and as much as she wanted to come back with a 'you tell me since you see that in the mirror every day…Scarface,' she merely turned around and headed back inside, her fists tight and wanting to just walk up to him and punch him right in his twisted, sarcastic smile. But that's what he wanted and she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction because she knows he could hold it over her husband and she wasn't playing that game.

'He's making parole.'

'What?'

'I just saw the list. His name is on the approved list. Lindsay…'

'I'm heading out to tell Kelly right…'

But another call came in and even though Voight said he'd offer to tell her anxious husband to save her the mental grief, Erin replied that his protection is appreciated but it would only cause strife between her and Kelly if she were to do things that way.

Erin turns the lock and slowly enters their quiet apartment, dropping her jacket on the coat hook and going in search of her husband. "Kelly?" She is rewarded with only silence. She spies the half-drunk bottle on table and can only shake her head as she nears it. Her ears pick up a soft groan and her eyes quickly divert over to the couch where she finally sees her husband – passed out and muttering angrily in his sleep.

Knowing that it would be pointless to have a reasonable discussion she takes a blanket and covers his frame, leaning in and kissing his lightly stubbled jaw.

"He's…out right?" Severide's sour question is heard, as his bleary eyes open and slowly look upward.

"Kelly…"

"I saw him tonight," he starts with an angry edge to his tone as she kneels down beside the couch and looks at him in wonder.

"What? No you couldn't have; he made parole today but he wasn't released today."

"He was…no…it was a stranger…what happened today?" He asks with a slurred huff.

Erin looks at him, trying to make sense of his words as her fingers gently graze his tight jaw. "You need sleep."

"So…he made parole."

"Yes."

Severide looks at her as he slowly sits up; his brain cursing the pounding now coursing through his throbbing head and begging him to lie back down. He looks past her to the bottle on the table and then back at her quietly pleading glance. "So uh…really."

"Voight and I were there today and…"

"YOU? You said you were leaving when I did!" His voice booms as her lips purse. "Did Hadley see you?"

"Kelly…"

"Did he?"

"Yes!"

"Son of a bitch!" He curses as he tries to stand upright. But fatigue gets the better of him and he slumps back down in anger. "Why were you there?"

"I was doing my job as you were."

"What'd he say to you? What!"

"He tried to engage me but I turned around and walked away."

"What did he say…"

"Hello…look it was nothing. I gave him nothing," she insists. Before he can do or say anything further, she slowly eases herself onto his lap and wraps her arms around his shoulders, pulling his head onto her shoulder.

"Erin…this can't be happening."

"He played the system, there's nothing…"

"He's going to come after you…to hurt me!" He hisses as he looks up in distress. "He can't…hurt you."

She looks at him in sympathy, her cheek resting atop his head.

"How…how the hell did this happen?" Severide grumbles as he tries to reach for his phone.

"It's midnight. Who's going to pick up?"

He tosses his phone aside and looks up in misery. "Was my statement…read?"

"No. It wasn't received."

"Okay so…they can redo the hearing or…or they can…he can't get out…can't…" his voice trails off as he looks away in anger. "This can't be…can't be."

There wasn't much she could say to ease his mind in that moment as she knows he's going to obsess about this until…until what? Her brain finishes her thought as she remains in his grasp until he finally passes out. After that she eases herself from his grasp and covers him; telling herself that if he's asleep it's better for him to just remain where he is until he awakens and rejoins her in their shared bed. And that's exactly what he does a few hours later.

But instead of letting his mind dwell on the fact that he's lying in bed in the loving arms of his beautiful wife all he sees is his former team member and current nemesis making her suffer while he helplessly watches. The night is tormented for all of them and by the time morning comes Severide's anger toward Hadley is already starting to bubble to the surface. he looks over at Erin's sleeping frame and carefully removes himself from their bed, pulling his phone and texting Casey as he heads for the kitchen.

XXXXXXXX

"Matt?"

"Sorry," Casey whispers as he looks over at his wife's inquiring expression.

"Everything okay?" Hallie asks with a soft whisper as he kisses her cheek and shows her the text from Severide.

'Hadley's getting parole.'

"Oh no," Casey sighs as he slumps back down into his bed, Hallie's head resting on his shoulder. "How did this happen," he mutters almost rhetorically.

"I thought Kelly emailed an impact statement?" Hallie wonders.

"He did…or he said he did," Casey's brow furrows heavily as his eyes fix on the test. "Either way I'm sure with no one there in person, Hadley put on the performance of his life."

"What happens now?"

"I…don't know."

XXXXXXXX

"Hey…" Erin greets her husband the following morning as he enters with a mug of steaming coffee in his grasp. She pushes back the blanket on his already cooled side of the bed, Severide easing himself down beside his wife and handing her the aromatic receptacle.

"So…if he gets out," Severide pauses as his jaw tightens. "We can get a restraining order right? I don't want him anywhere near 51 or 21 or…here."

"There will be conditions to his parole and…he has to check in every day and…" Erin starts only to be interjected by a small snort. "We'll keep him away."

"For how long?" Severide asks sourly.

"For as long as it takes. I think when he realizes how many restrictions he has here, he'll tire of it and move away."

"And set fires somewhere else?"

"But that'll be someone else's problem," Erin replies in haste as Severide looks at her with a cross expression. "What? I know it sounds cold but you can't spend the rest of your life worrying about Kevin Hadley or looking over your shoulder or…"

"Worrying which one he's watching."

Erin's fingers intertwine with her husbands as his head rests on her shoulder. "Just don't engage him. You know that's what he's going to want and he will try to find some way to do that."

Severide's strong arms pull her into his embrace and hold her tightly while his cheek rests on her head; her ear once again tucked in by his rapidly beating heart.

"Love you so much," Severide whispers as she looks up with an adoring smile.

"I love you too and we'll get through this together."

"We will," Severide agrees with a clipped tone. "But…if he comes near me and…I'll put him out."

"If you fight him…you do anything, that's what he wants. I'm going to talk to Voight and I want you to just…"

"Yeah go to work and try not to think about him!"

Erin watches him pull away and storm out of their bedroom and disappear around the corner. "It's going to be a long day."

XXXXXXXX

Casey watches Severide enter Firehouse 51 about an hour later and heads toward his friend with a look of concern. "I haven't told anyone yet," Casey mentions as Severide looks past him to Shay and then back again. "Figured it should come from you or Boden."

"I'm going to wait until I uh…know the parole conditions. Matt…he's gonna get out and…"

"You think he'll come here?" Casey interjects in haste.

"Part of me hopes he does so I can just lay him flat. Don't know why Erin didn't like that plan," he concludes with some sarcasm.

"Yeah can't imagine why not," Casey echoes with a smirk before his expression clouds. "Kelly…"

"Erin's pretty sure that part of his parole restrictions will be to stay away from well…anyone here. She wasn't sure about precinct 21 but if it's not part of I hope she gets a restraining order against him. I don't want him anywhere near her."

"I'm sure she's more worried about you," Casey utters fatefully. "Did you hear from your dad anything more about that arson?"

"Only that Larson was poisoned and it's been turned over to the CPD. But…"

"But what?" Casey prods when Severide pauses.

"But the initial cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. So…if you have some time, I was thinking that you might want to join me…just looking around the scene for the secondary cause of the fire. Just…look I gotta keep my mind busy until Erin or Voight…or whoever comes and gives us the news about Hadley."

"I'll drive."

Shay watches the two 51 lieutenants taking their leave and hurries toward them. "Jumping ship already?" She asks with a small snicker as Severide turns to her with a small smirk.

"We're going to look at the Larson scene."

"You're both in charge or did you forget?"

"I'll go…" Severide volunteers as Casey looks at him in concern. "I just need…"

"What's going on? And don't say nothing because I know you too well. Married or not I still know you," Shay presses as she leans in a bit closer. "Erin's pregnant!"

Severide looks at Casey with pursed lips and then looks back at his former roommate with an unimpressed looking shaking his head. "No. Not even close."

"You and Matt finally that that hot affair?" She retorts as Casey and Severide can't help but chuckle.

"How well do you know me?" Severide counters with a small groan. "I'm going to check on the second cause of arson."

Casey watches him leave and then looks at Shay with a shrug.

"They're having a baby right?"

"Not even close," Casey replies as Shay growls.

"I'm going with the affair!" Shay calls out as she nods to Herrmann and Mouch.

He can only laugh at her false statement, but as Casey turns back to see Severide pull away from Firehouse 51 at top speed his agitation starts to grow. "Hermann!" He calls out as the just certified lieutenant hurries toward him. "I need an hour with Severide to assess an arson scene. We'll be back in an hour."

"Everything okay?" Herrmann asks in a low tone as Casey looks at him seriously.

"No," Casey answers in truth.

"Go. I got this covered. Clarke can help me."

Casey wastes no time in hurrying after his friend, telling himself that Severide shouldn't be alone right now.

Severide reaches the House where Hadley had used someone to set the fiery trap that injured his wife and was the final resting place for Troy Larson. He looks at the House, his mind replaying the image of himself racing into the burning building without proper protection – his mind and heart fearing the worst.

"I know you did this," Severide hisses as he gets out and slowly heads toward the entrance. He steps into the charred structure, his heart rate starting to pick up the pace. He first starts at the place his father said the initial cause of fire was started.

'But someone else set another fire to slowly burn undetected. It was trapped. Slowly burning. Only giving off carbon monoxide but not enough heat to alert Larson to another danger. Find it Kelly. Find the second source.'

"Second source," Severide mutters as he starts to bend down. But just as he does, he hears some shuffling and turns with his crowbar raised – ready to strike.

"Whoa! It's me!" Casey's shrill voice states in haste as he backs away and Severide's hands lower the piece of metal.

"Damn it Matt!" Severide curses and then lowers the bar all the way to his side. "Who's holding down the House?"

"Herrmann and Clarke. I said we'd be gone an hour and figured a second set of eyes will speed things up."

"Can't argue with that logic," Severide smirks as he nods toward the second floor. "Larson was found on the second floor so I'm thinking that the second fire was set on the first floor or in the basement. Take your pick."

"I'll take the basement."

Severide watches Casey take his leave and is grateful that his friend is just as stubborn as him and is there at the scene working it together. He turns back to his own inspection and starts to slowly open a few closet doors. Nothing. "Where did you set it…you bastard?"

"Kelly!" Casey's voice calls out from the basement.

"Yeah…what'd you fi…oh that smell…is that? Like burnt hair but…what'd you find?"

"Found the second source right here. Bolts of…"

"Silk," both utter at once as they look at each other and Casey nods.

"With this thickness it would have burned slowly. Minimal smoke, minimal heat. Larson might not have even known this was here. And look…right beside a vent…up to a windowless room."

"And if he was poisoned then his senses would have been sluggish and it could have already been burning and he didn't even know it," Casey explains.

"Hadley gets another friend or glorified arson hound to set the backdraft on the second floor where Larson's dead body already is waiting for a nice breath of oxygen. Damn, Erin and Jay…they walked right in to his trap," Severide's teeth grit as he pauses. "Matt, if he gets out…"

"But the whole CFD has been alerted and knows his MO. Any empty buildings or any buildings on the most dangerous buildings and fire traps list will be on their radar and…"

"But he could still set a damn fire trap!" Severide growls in anger as he turns to head back upstairs. "I'll call dad about this," he adds quietly as Casey takes a few pictures of the scene and then joins his friend upstairs. "He hasn't changed Matt…and no matter where that bastard goes he's going to cause trouble. Murder. He wanted this. He sent Erin that damn badge cutout. He set that fire started and he killed Larson."

"No."

"Matt…"

"He had Larson killed. Someone's still out there helping him and when he gets out, that's where he's going. At some point."

"Dad's on his way," Severide mentions as he reads the buzzing text. "We need to get back to 51. Did you finish taking pictures?"

"Yeah. Everyone is aware of who Hadley is and what he's done and what he's capable of. They'll all be on alert," Casey states as they head for the front door.

Severide stands on the somewhat charred steps and looks down the street, his eyes slightly narrowing as he rests on each car for a few seconds and then moves on. He tries to tell himself that everything will be okay and that Hadley's release will be stressful but that his former squad member will tire of all the restrictions and move. But no matter how much he tries to convince himself of that he knows it's a lie. Hadley hasn't changed…he'll be out for blood.

"You ready?"

Severide looks at Casey and nods. "Yeah." The two of them head for the respective vehicles; Severide not realizing just how real his fears are as he doesn't see the set of eyes watching him closely.

But…he'd know soon enough.

A/N: *phew* okay so that was a close call for Kelly but it wasn't Hadley. Hmm will that luck always hold? Well you know Hadley's made parole. So what will be his first order of business and who did he find to help him do his dirty work? A rather tense linderisde moment but don't worry our couple is going to connect before the sparks fly (literally muwahaha) once more! So please do review before you go (b/c your love is making this story grow a bit more) and thanks so much!